Dkoppina machine



July 17, 1923.

, 1.462.185 R. E. WILSON ET' AL v DROPPING MACHINE FiledNov. l2 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 77 807 8 :4 zyz;

ATTORNEYS.

July-11, 1923. 1.462.185

R. E. WILSON ET AL DROPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 III/IIIIIIII/(IIIlI/llllball.

Illlllllllfilfllllllll IIIIA INVENTOR5 Zoieri 1242 kl Ml 8071 liolaz'zii/ mcfi zisam BY 3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July l33.

; nam sT 'nonnnrnzaxrnn wILsonAnn ROBERT EUGENE wILso'N, or BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, Assre-nons T0 sEYr oUR- B. 'craoss'ornnwi nx, NEW JERSEY.

" innorrnve MACHINE.

Application filed. NovehiberlZ, 1921'. seriaiwudhslassa.

To c tZZw/wm it mag concern: 1-

Be itaknown that we, H VVILsoN and Ronnn'r BlUGEQN E TWILsoN, citisens'of the United States, residingat Belleville, inthe county of. Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in) Dropping i Machines; and wedo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of theinventio11,such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked there on, which form a part of thisspecification;

This invention relates, generally, to an improved construction of dipping frame and loading mechanism therefor; and the invention has reference, inore' particularly, to a novel construction offrame for receiving and holding a plurality OfXVIlIfGS, sticks or the like, together with anov'el ,mecha nism for automatically and simultaneously delivering the required numbergofv said wires, sticks or the like, into operative, as- I sembled relation to the frame, and there upon locking the same in such relation. i In the manufacture of pyrotechnical de vices, such as sparklerdflbengal wlights and similar articles, a wire orysticleis dipped vinto. a properpyrotechnical compound so that said compound is 1 depositedupon' a vportion of the longitudinal extentot said wire or stick, and upon "the proper drying and hardening of the compound the article 1s or stick serving as ahandle,for manipulating' process usually employed in the produc-l accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of the novel loading mechanism with'the novel dippingtion of such articles consists in providing some form of frameorholder inwhich the wires. or sticks arevertioally disposed in symmetrical groups, eachjindividual wire or stick being suitably spacedfromfthe'ad jacent wires or sticks. The wires or (sticks thusdisposed aresuitably secured tothe frame or holderagainst accidental displaces I ment, so that a considerable portion of their lengths dependfrom the frame or; holder, and so that by-a proper "manipulation of the latter such dependingportions of said wires oristicks may be thrust or dipped into ,a pyrotechnical compound to receive a coating thereof. Frames or holdersofvarious kinds have heretofore been used, but have ROBERT- Ezmimn fellows when locked frame.

beeniloaded or charged with the wires or stroke by hand; such method entailing a QOl'lSlClGiZtblG consumption of both time and provide not only a novel construction of holderorjframe for the wiresor sticl ;s,-provided with a very simple and effective means for lockingthe latter therein-against IPATENTJOFFICE- labor-Li lt isthe object of this invention to accidental displacemenhbut to also provide an automatic machine for deliveringto and assemblingjin said novel ,holder Oir frame the required number of wires" or sticks for fully loading the same, by a very simple and rapid method whereby the exact number of wires or sticks required to load the holder'or frame are simultaneously dropped into-the latter, thus saving a cons derable amount of tedious and time con .suming hand labor while at the same time "assuring the proper separately spaced disposition of each wire or stick relative toits in the said holder or Other objectsof this invention, not" this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description, of the same;

,- With the objects of this invention in view,

construction of dipping frame and loading mechanism thereforheremafter set forth;

the same consists, primarily, in the novel the" various devices and parts, as wellas in ,the details of the construction of the same, complete; the uncoated -portion of the w re ll of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied inthe claimsappended hereto. 7 a

The invention is clearly illustrated in the Ii frame coperatively associated therewith;

Figure 2 is, a vertical cross section through zontal section, taken on line inv said Figure 8; Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of the wire feeding:- and releasing devices, drawn on an enlarged;

scale; Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary hori- Zontal section, taken on line 6-6 in said fireleasing devices; Figure t is a detailhori:

ing bracket piece 13.

Figure 5, said view showing the wire releasing mechanism in initial wire retaining position; Figure 6 shows the releasing mechanism operating to frictionally bind the wires against release; Figure 7 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 6, but showing the wire releasing mechanism as actuated to release the wires for delivery to the clipping frame; Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan or top view of the novel dipping frame, with the top wall partially broken away'to show the interi'ial locking mecha nism in elevation, said locking mechanism being also shown in initial released position; andFigure 9 is a view similar to that shown in said Figure 8, but illustrating the locking'mechanis'm in actuated operative relation to the wires assembled in said clipping frame. 7 v

1 Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character lOindicates a pair of longitudinally spaced vertical standards, suitably supported upon foot-pieces 11, and joined together adjacent to their lower ends by a tie-rod 12. Secured to the upper extremity of each standard 10 is a forwardly project- Secured to and extending longitudinally between said bracket pieces 18 is a. horizontal bridge plate 14. Supported upon said bridge plate 14- are a plurality of upwardly projecting tubular containers 15. Said tubular containers are arranged in longitudinal rows. the corresponding members of: the respective rows being transversely alined one with another. Said longitudinal rows of tubular containers are also preferably arranged and disposed in two longitudinal'equal groups, spaced apart laterally one from the other. fhe upper ends of said tubular containers 15 are suitably attached to a top plate 16, which is supported by uprights 17 from said bridge plate 14, thus securely holding said containers against displacement from their vertically disposed relation to said bridge plate 14:. Said bridge plate 1-4 is provided with openings 18 axially alined respectively with the interiors'of said tubular containers15. Arranged in the bottoms of said tubular containers 15 are vertically movable agitator members 19 having depending shanks 20 projecting downwardly through said openings 18 or said bridge plate 14;. The upper ends of said agitator members 19 are provided with concave seats Said tubular containers are each adapted to support in upright position a plurality of sparkler wires 23. Said agitator members 19 and their shanks 20 are provided with axially or centrally disposed 'ertical discharge openings 24 of diameters substantially corresponding; to the diameter of a single sparkler wire 23, so that only one sparkler wire can pass endwise therethrough at a time. Disposed transversely beneath said bridge plate 14, and spaced downwardly therefrom, so as to be alined respectively with the transverse rows of tubular containers 15, are transverse agitator bars 525 capable of a vertical or up and down vibratory movement. The opposite ends of said agitator bars 25 are supported upon guidt pieces 26 which are secured to the underside of said bridge plate 1% so as to depend'therefrom, anc which possess cnla 'ed heads 26" which serve as stops for determining the downward limit oi movement permitted to said agitator bars. Said agitator bars have their ends perforated or otherwise cutaway so as to operativel y engage said guide pieces. The lower free ends ot the shanks 20 of said agitator members 19engage and rest upoi the upper surface of said agitator bars 25,

and the latter are provided with openings .27 which are alined with the dischare openings 2 of said agitator members 19. Journaled in bearings 28 fixed to the undersidz of said bridge plate let, adjacent to the ends of the latter is a longitudinal camshatt :39 irovided with a cam portion 30 of: polygonal cross sectional shape, as, for example. the hexagonal shape shown in the drawings Said cam-shattwith its cam portion 30 ei-1- tends longitudinally beneath the ac'itator bars 25 so as to operatively engage the central or intermediate portions 31 is the latter. thus constructed and arranged said cam-shaft and its cam portion is alined beneath the space intermediate the laterally spaced groups of tubular containers 15, thus permitting sparkler wire releasing means to be mounted on either side of camshaft in proper vertical alinement with the members or the respective laterally spaced groups of tubular containers. This arrangement permits the applicat n of vertical vibratory impulses to the central portions of said agitator bars 25, whereby the latter can best distribute said impulses equally to all the agitator members 19 engaged therewith. Secured on one end of said cam-shaft 29 is a driving pulley 32, by means of which rotary motion may be transmitted to said cam shaft from any suitable source of power. The wire releasing; means comprise longitudir illy disposed supportii r plates 33 which extend beneath. said agitator-bars 95, and which are secured by their respective ends to spacing blocks 3 llixed to the under side of said bridge pl te 1-1, whereby the said supporting plates are spaced dowwardly from said bridge plate suitable distance providing clearanc for the operative movement of said agitator bars As thus disposed said supporting platw 1 respectfullypositioned beneath each roup of tubular containers 15. Fixed to and supstop device is provided, at the endsot the ported by said supportingplates are longitudinal rows of tubular guides Behave ing axial or vertical passages 36 vertically alined with the discharge openings 240i said agitator members 19and with the openings 27 of saidagitator bars 535 associatedtherewith. of each group of tubular guides 35 areprovided on their inner or oppositely facing sides with lateral "openings or slots 37 in tersecting said vertical passages 36 above the lower ends of the latter; Extending longitudinally between the rows of tubular guides 35 of each group of the latterflis a longitudinally movable releasing bar 38 slidably supported in connection with the under side of the supporting plate33, by clip plate 39' secured to and spaced from the respective ends of the supporting plate 33 by spacing blocks to fixed-upon thelatter. The laterally opposed forward ends of the releasing bars 38 of the groups jolt tubular guides 35 areinterconnected by agxti'ansveit'se tie-bar ll. Pivotally mounted on atulcrum stud 42 depending from said bridge-plate 1 is a lever 413, the innerend of which is pivotally connectedto said tie-bar 4i. The

outer end 44 of said lever l3 projectsoutwardly from the rearward margin'oit said bridge plate 14. It Wlll be'evident that the operation of said lever A3 will produce a simultaneous and equal longitudinal move ment of said releasing bars as will be clearly understoodirom an inspection of Figure l of the drawings. Mounted upon the underside of said releasing bars 38 area plurality of longitudinally spacedflstopspring devices; the'transverse main bodies do of which are secured in alace by screws 46, or by any other. suitable means. .liiach main body d5-thereof, with outwardly and forwardly inclined spring arms d7 terminating in longitudinal stop-projectionsdd. The stop-projections 48 are normally disposed respectively inathe lateral openings or slots 37 of said guides and so as to otlereither Mounted on said vertical standards 1.0,ftor vert cal reciprocatory movement thereon,are slide pieces 49 which are connected togetl'ier,

at their upperends, by a longitudinal carriage bar 50. Fixed in the an les foined at the.

' juncture 'ofthe lower-ends of said standards rods 54.

10withthe tie-rod 1 2 aresocketed bloclis 51 in which are inserted interchangeable vertical stop postsPSQwvhich engage the lower ends of said slide-pieces 19 to determine the normal initial lowered position of the same I and the carriage bar 50 supported thereby. The transversely opposed members Connected with said foot-pieces '11; and

vforwardly spaced from said standards 10,

are guide sockets 53. Mounted in said guide sockets 53, are vertical sliderods 5% having at their upper free ends enlarged headse l. Annular shoulders or collars 5- which are fixed on said slide rods, engage the upper ends of saidguide-sockets 53 to determine the normal initial lowered position of said the slide-rods 5 2 until they engage with the heads MQ-whereupon an upward movement of proper stroke is imparted to said slide rods for purposes which will subsequently appear. Mounted on said slide-bars 54, so as to be vertically adjustable thereon, is a longitudinal support 56 upon which is fixed a horizontal stop-plate 57. said support 56 are provided with annular bosses 58, surrounding saicl slide-rods 5 L which carry set-screws 59 for securing, the support 56 and stop-plate 57 in desired ver tically adjusted position on said Connected with said standards lib so as to project reaiwvardlyfrom the lower end portions there'ot, are upwardly inclined ber ing brackets 60 provided. at their tree en's with bearings 61 in which is journalecl rock-shaft 62, Suitably fixed on the right hand end of, said roclrshatt 62 is an actuat ing lever Fixed on said roclnshait 62 in proper locations, are coupling sockets Gel which serve to secure to said roclnshaitt for wardly projecting lever-arms 65. Projecting from the inward sides of said slide-pieces 49 are studs 66, and operatively interconnecting said studs 66 respectively with the forward free ends of said lever arms are' linl blocksfir'. Also fixed on said rock-shaft (32. in desired locations, are other coupling socle ets 68 which serve to secure-to said rock shaft rearwardly projecting lever-arms (59 upon the tree ends of which are attached counter-balance weightsid it will be no derstood that by imparting an upward swing -s ting lever 63, the rock-shaft "2 will be turned. rearwardlyso as to throw up ward the lever-arms The upward swing oi le'verazrrns 7 l'QtllCl link-blocks 6? to said slide-pieces 4L9, thereby causing the same to slide upwardly on said standards 10 to thereby riagebar 50' to its upward limit.

The ends of slide is transmitted through all points toward thev receiving end ofthe discharge openings 24:. and 811106 the agitator members are maintained in vertical vibra-v tion through the operation of the agitator bars 25 by the turning otthe camshaft 29' the agitator bars and enter the passages 36 of the guides 35 until stopped by the normally positioned stop-projections 48 of the spring-stop devices associated with the releasing;- bars 38. r I

Themachine being supplied with sparl rler wires 23, a dipping frame placed upon the carriage brackets 7 1, and operatively secured to the carriage device. The operator now grasps the actuating lever 63 and by swinging the same upward operates the carriage device to raise the same (as above described) thereby moving the dipping frame upwardly to theguides 35, so that the openings 77 of the former register with the openings36 of the latter.- As the carriage device thus, moves upward to wire receiving position, the cam member 86 engages and operates the lever 43 to thereby slide forward the releasing bars 38 so that the spring stop-devices'with which the stop-projections 48 are connected are also movedforward to with draw the latter from'initial obstructing relation to the passages 36 of the guides 35. This operation releases the sparkler wires 23 entered in the guides, so that the same drop downward by gravity, their lower ends passing through the vertically alined pairs of openings 77 of the dipping frame, and

thence downwardly between. the separator fingers 92 until stopped against the stopplate 57. Before the carr age'devlce reaches theupper limit of its movement and before the sparkler wires E23'arereleased-from the guides 35, the arms ofthe slide-pieces 49 approach and engage the heads 54 of the slide-r0 2ls 54:, thereby exertinga liftupon the latter as the carriage device completes its-upward movement, whereby there is im- Fparted to the stop-plate 57 a limited upward movement which is timed to slightly raise the stop-plate simultaneously wlth the release of the sparkler wires.

withdraw from the passages 36 of the guides 35., "and consequently any following wires which drop down from the containers 15 36 of the guides 35.

securely thereto.

This raising .of c the stop-plate 57v limits the downward travel of the sparkler wires so that the upp'er ends of the latter 'do not quite clear or? of the drawings) the wire releasing mechanism is in releasing position,since the lower ends of said following wires will be obstructed by the upper ends of'said released wires which are still engaged in'the lower endsof the passages The movement of the actuating lever 63 is. now reversed, thereby lowering the carriage device to normal initial lowered posi tion, which thus carriesthe dipping frame downwardly upon the upper ends of the sparkler wires 23, so as to leave the portions of the latter which are to serve as handles for the finished sparklers projecting above the dipping frame, while the portions there-- of Wl'llCll are to receive the coating of pyrotechnical compound project downwardly be low the dipping frame. As the carriage device is thus returned to normal initial low- 'ered position, the cam-member 86 reverses its operation upon the lever 43, thereupon moving the wire releasing mechanism back to holding relation to the following sparkler wires. Since, however, the-following sparkler wires are mostlikely to be positioned so that their lower ends project beyond the slots 37, said stop-spring devices, when returned to holding position, willnotnecestion, however, is equally effectual in holding the wires against dropping. By the time the following wires are thus engaged and held against dropplng, the downward movement of the stop-plate 57 which accompanies the downward movement of the carriage device i is completed, such downward movement of the stop-plate being sufficient to completely withdraw theupper ends of the'rele'ased and .dropped wires free'from the guides 35.

The dipping frame having been thus charged with the required number of spark- ].er wires, the same'are ready to be locked The locking voperation is accomplished by actuating the hand lever 85 to cause the eccentric cam 84 to push for- -ward the slide-bolts 78 to looking position.

In thus moving forward to locking position,

said slide-bolts 78 carry'the lock springs 80 against those portionsof the sparkler wires disposed between the plates 74 and the verti- "cally alined openings 77 thereof, and cause the springs .to exert a lateral pressure upon the wires which binds the wires against the margins of the openings 77 (as will be understood from an inspection of Figure 9 7 It is preferable to provide the outward margins of the openings 77 with notches 77 which approximate in size the diameter of the wires, and into which the wires are forced by the pressure and tension of the lock-springs 80. when the latter operat-ively engage therewith. Such notches 77' provide a better grip upon the wires 23, and at the same time tend to firmly hold the same againstdisplacement from the perpendicular when locked in the dipping frame. The wires having! thus been locked to the frame in proper relation thereto, the eccentric rotary-keeper 82 is turned to obstruct accidental retraction of the slide-bolts, and consequently accidental release of the wires from the dipping frame.

Since the agitator members 19 continue in operation,iit follows that as the first wires are displaced from the containers 15, second wires will gravitate to the discha'ge openings 24- to pass downwardly therethrough. and thence to stopped position in the gniides 35, consequently the first dipping; frame is removed after being loaded, and a second dipping frame deposited upon the carriage device, whereupon the above described operations may be continued as often as desired In order to prevent accidental operation of the lever 4-3 (which controls the actuation of wire releasing mechanism) while the carriage device is in lowered position, [ety lock is provided, comprising a pivoted lock lever 93, having" a lock-notch 94- in its side which normally straddles the end 44; of said lever 43, the free end of said lock-lever 9? carrying a weight 95 for holding the lock lever in and returning the same to operative relation to the lever d3. Said loch-lever 93 is preferably pivotally secured to the rear end of the bracket arm 13 adjacent to said lever 41-3. hen the cam member 86 rises with the carriage device, it first contacts vith and lifts said lock-lever 98 to free the position of the dipping frame relative to said longer wires properly determined this end the stop posts 52 are made interchangeable, so thatthe carriage device may be raised or lowered to establish its normal initial position by using longer or shorter stop posts 5211s the circumstances require. Also the stop-plate 57 may be raised or lowered on the slide rods 5% according to need.

From the above description it will be apparent that we' have provided a very eificient mechanism for the purposes in view whicl automatically 3- cra'rcs o asscn'ible, at

one stroke or simultaneously, a very lar number of wires or sticks in proper spac 5 relation to a dipping ram e or other holding: device. The capacity ol the machine is merely a matter oi? sir-1e. number of the rows oi variable accordin the case. In Figure have shown the ends of a a the . thine i central portion duplicating' the container and associated structures broker away,

since ordinarily tl'ie machine Yi'onli'l possess the conta ners n longitudinal rows oi co siderable leng't as. for c) nple tour rows each possessing thirty-sir; con -ners 15, thus airing provision for loadin a dipping or frame with one hundred and tort tour wires, iapting each frame to the procof manufacturing the articles in l-ot W aware that some changes 11 iinb in a t 10 ns 1113.1 c in the arran V! v y 1 V w W v. or the .a was den es and pans, as well as the details of the construction otthe same. without departing from the scope of our invention as forth in the foregoing specitcation, and as defined 1 the appended scribe .i I *ertically movable carriage, a wire re eivln means detach-ably mounted on cam carriage, upwarijl ni-tivcment of said carriagre d vice being adapted to carry said wire receivine means into o icrative relation to said Wire releasing mechanism, means actuated bvthe upwad movement of said carriage device for operating said wire releasing mechanism to drop "wires into said wire receiving H182 and a on means for limiting the drop '1 released wires.

5 T a mechai the kind described,

- iners for holding sunthe like means for discl'iarin at a time by gravity from said rtical guides below said dis he, means to receive Wires therefrom. r rasible stop mechanism associated with ,1 'd QliltlGS to check the drop of said wires from said containers a vertically n'iovable carriage, a Wire receiving means detachablv nioiiini'ed on said rarriug ge, upward move 11 t of Mid carriage being adapted to carry 5 wires one 'said wire receiving means into operative alined relation to said guides; me insi actumeans for reciprocating said carriage device, ated by the upward movement of said car riage for releasing said stopmechanism to drop Wires into, said Wire receiving means, and means associated with said carriage for limiting'the drop of said wires. p

f lfn mechanis i oil the kind described, plurality of containerscl orholding a suppliof Wires or the like, means "for dischargingr ivires one at, t one by vgravity( rom said containers vertical guides below' said discharging meansto receive Wires therefrom, releasable stop mechanism associated with said Q'lllil68ttLCllQClK tl'iedrop of said wires from said containers, a verti allv movable carriage, Wire re-Haiving meansla ngWire locking ilcvices tachably mouniedon said carriage. upward movement of said arria 'e being adapted to carrysaid \vircre eivin detachablv mounted on saidcarriage device" se'd holdingframe havingfivire receiving I means vertically alincd with said guides when said holdingfframe is attachedtosaid carriage device, an upward movement of said carriage device being adapted to move said holding frame into Wire receivingzrelation to said guides meanson said carriage device for tripping said releasable stop mechanism when said carriage is raised to drop Wires into said holding frame means for limiting "Frame and manipulatable n'ieans mounted on saidcerriage device for actuatio said Wire locking devices of said holdingmeans.

6. In mechanism the kind described, a plurality of vertical containersifor holding means into operative alined relation to ear "supply oi": ires or the like, said containers guices means actuated by the upward movebeing fixed in desired grouped and spaced rement of said carr age for releasing stop lat-ion: one to the other, means tordischarg mechanism to drop 'vires intosaid Wire re mg wires one at a time by gravity, from each ceiving means, means associated .ivith i carriage for limi ng tl' edrop oil said iesi low said containers into which said Wires and manipulatable means mounted onsaid pass" releasablestop mechanism for simulcarriage device for actuatingrsnid wire lock- 1 ing devices ofsaid receivnp; means. a vertically reciprocable carriage qdevice, 4:. lnmechanism oifthc kind described, meausfor rcciprocating said carriage device,

' holdir 'pass,releasable stop mechanism for simullow said containers into which said "Wires pass,releasable stop mechanism Ti'Ol'f simuiwire receiving; means vertically alined with a said guides when said frame is attached to said carnage device, vertical. slide rods,

said slide rods, perforated arms connected taneously releasingwires' from said guides, a vertically reciprocal'ile carriagige device, means ior ciprocating said carriagede vice a hol ing frame detachably mounted on said'y iiage devicmsaidholdi frame device being; adapted to move said holding h i g eivin vineans" erticall v irame into Wire receivingrelation to said a'lined with said ides when said holdine' c frame is attached to said carriage devicman upward movement of said carriage device being" adapted. tomove sa ill holding frame into wire receiving relationto said guid i means on said carriage device for trippi said releasable stop jmecl anisn when said carriage is lEElSGCliTO drop \viresfinto said Frame, and means for limiting; the vsaid ires through hold carried by said slide-rods and disposed in downwardly spacedrelation to said holdir trippingsaid releasable v stop-mechanism -When carriage is raised todrop Wires :into said holding frame, said stop-plate being adapted for limited upward movement ivith said carriage device to stop the downward drop of said Wires beforethe'y entirely mechanism is tripped to thereby prevent outa ard drop of following wires from said QjlllClES until said r leasable stop mechanisms 5. In mechanism of the kinddescribed; a phnrality oi' vertical containers for holding a supply of \vireso the like, said containers being lined in desired grouped and spaced relation one to the other; means for discharginpqivires one ata time by 'gravity, fromeach cfontaiioer,- vertical tubular guides alined besaid following'w'ires. a I

:7. In a mechanism of the kind described a "plurality of vertical containers for holding a suppl of wires or the like, means for sup porting said containers; an agitator member in the bottom of each container having a dis- 7 cha e opening permittingthe passage of a 8111 v trainer, the upper ends of said agitator membershaving concave seats surrounding said taneo'usly releasing wires fromsaid guides, a vertically lIGCIPIQC a-blG, carriage devlce,

a holding; tramehaving Wire locking devices.

the drop of said ires through said holding I container; vertical tubular guides, alined b.e-'

te'neouslv releasin Wires from said 'uides v h r M h a' a holding frame 'detachablv mounted 'onsaid v carnage device; said holding frame havlng -fineans mounting said slide rods, heads on with said carriage device engaged over said slide rods beneath said heads, a stopplateframe, an upwardmovement of said carriage is returned to operative holding; relation to guides and means on said carriage device for 1 clear said guides and while said releaseablev -evwire downwardly out of each con-ce o 'iening permittingthe passage of a Wire donnivardlv out of each con- 3 the upper ends oi said agitator inem iaving concave seats surrounding; said e epcnin 's means for vertically risaid zijficil'tiil ieinbersi vertical tubu 'lnClQS below and alined with the dis- 7 of said itator menib s= cuitiiine s. V 9. in a mechanism of t is kind described, a plurality oi? vertical containers for holding a supply of Wires or the like, means for sup porting said containers, an agitator member in the bottom of each container having; a disiarsze opening;permitting the passage or a single Wire ClOWIUTalC lv out of each container, the upper ends oi: said amtator inern bei's having concave seats surround. discharge openings, means for vertical y vibrating: said agitator ineml ers, vertical tubular guides below and alined with the discharge openings of said agitator members re leasable stop mechanism associat ti "with said guides to check the drop of said wires from said containers, a vertically movable arriage, a Wire receiving means dotachahly mounted on said carriagige, upvr. d moveu'ient oi z-zaid carriage being; adapted to carry said vci're receiving} means into operative alined relation to said guides means actuated by the upward movement of said carriage or releasing said step mechanism to drop Wll'QS into said wire receiving means. and m ans associated with said carriage limitingthe drop of said vires.

10. In mechanism oi the kind des ribed, a plurality of vertical cent for boldng; supply of \viresor the like means For supporting said 'containers agitator member in the bottom of each c tainer having discl'iarge opening" permit the issage of a sinp'le "ire (lOXIIlTVfLlCllFT o ch container. the upper ends of said a; i

or members havn concave seats ur rounding; said discharge ope iii-PIS, agitator bars mounted for vertical vibratory move ment beneath the supporting means of said contain s: said agitator bars euna ing' tater members to vihi e the same ver-- ticallv said agitator ha s hav openings alined with the dis-cha ge fiDQill'LQS oi said agitator members, and rotatable shaft having cam means tor vibrating said agitator bars. i

11. In a mechanism 0-5 the hind described plurality of vertical containers for hold- 'ainers, said agitator bars ena'ao;in; said tater members to vibrate the same vertisaid a; r bars having openings with the discharge openings of said ,cio r members. a rotatable shaft having; .ns tor vibrating: said agitator bars Yal tubular guides below said agitator 1 and TG TNEfl lY alined with the openings all agitator bars and tator members neal containers for hold- 1 Wires the like means for i d containers. an agitator e bottom of each container a lischarne opening permitting the passage oi a single Wire downwardly out of h rontaineix the upper ends of said .7 1' members having concave seats surrounding; said discharge openings, agitator oars mounted for vertical vibratory movelnent beneath the supporting: means 01" said norsi said agitator bars engaging" said tor bars havingopenings alined with discharge openings o't said agitator members, i having; cam means tor vibrating; said a tater lars. vertica'l tubular guides below said agitator bars and vertically alined with the openings o1 said agitator bars and agitator members, releasable stop mechanism associated with said guides to check the. drop'ot said Wires from said containers a verticallv movable carria a Wire remivingmeans detachablv inounted on said carriage, upward movement of said carriage being adapted to carry said Wire receiving; means into operative alined relation to said guides means actuated by tl upward movement of said carria-eje for releasing; said step mechanism to drop \vires into said Wire receiving means, and means asso ciaed with said carriage for limiting the drop of said Wires.

In a mechanism of the kind described, phualit} of vertical containers for holdi L supply 0'? wires or the like, means For discharging Wires one at a. time by gravity from each container: vertical tubular guides al ned below said containers into Which said Wires pass, and releasable stop mechanism associated with said guides to check the drop oi wires therefrom.

14. In a mechanism of-the kind described,

means a plurality of vertical containers for holds ing a supply of wires or the like, means for bars adjacent tosaidguides, stop devices carried by said releasing bars, and said dev ces" having outwardly inclined sprlng arms terminating in stop projections mov able through said lateral slots of said guides to normally engage I, and check the drop of wires from said (30111331116133 through: said guides.

a plurality of vertical containers for holding a supply of wires orthe like, means forv discharging wires one at a time by gravity from each container, guides having vertical passages alined with saiddischarge means of said containers,-said guides having lateral slots intersecting said vertical passage thereof, longitudinally slidable releasing bars adjacent to said guides, stop devices carried by esaid releasing bars, said de vices having outwardly inclined spring arms terminating in stop projections movable through said lateral slots of said guides to normallyengage and check thedrop of wires from said containers through said guides, a vertically reciprocable X carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage, a holding frame detachably mounted on said carriage, said holding frame having wire receiving openings vertically alined with said guides when said frame isattached to said carriage, an upward movement of said carriage beingadapted to move saidholding frame into wire' receiving relation to said guides, a lever means for actuating said releasing bars, cam means on said carriage for operating said lever means and said releasing bars when said carriage is reciprocated and means limiting the drop of wires through said holding frame. I i i 16. In a mechanism of the kind described,

a plurality ofvertical containersfor holding I wires from said containers through said' guides, a vertically reciprocable carriage,

means for reciprocating said carriage, a

-holding frame detachably mounted on said carriage, said holding frame having wire receiving openings verticallyalined-withsaid guldeswvhen said frame is attached to said carriage, an upward movement of saidcarriage being adapted to move said holding frameinto wire receivingrelation to said guides, a lever means for actuating said releasing bars, cam meanson said carriage for operating said lever means and said releasing bars when said carriage is reciprocated, means limiting the drop of wires, through said holding frame, comprising vertical slide rods,.heads on the upper ends of said slide-rods, a vstop-plate "mounted between v 1 j and carried by saidslide-rods to extend be- 15. In a mechanism of the kind described,

neath said holding frame, and means connected with said carriage engageable with said slide-rods to raise and lower the same and said stop-plate for the purposes described. v

17. In a mechanism of the kind described, a plurality of vertical containers for holdinga supply of wires or the like, means for supporting saidcontainers, an agitator memher in the bottom of each container having a discharge opening permitting the passage of a single wire downwardly out of each container, the upper ends of said agitator members having concave seats surrounding said discharge openings, agitator. bars mounted for vertical vibratory movement beneath the supporting means ofsald containers, said agitator bars engaging said agitator members to vibrate the same vertically, said agitator bars having openings alined with the discharge openings of said agitator members, a rotatable shaft having cam means for vibrating said agitator bars, guides having vertical passages alinedswith the openings of said agitator, bars and agitator members, said guides having lateral slots intersecting said vertical passages thereof, longitudinally" slidable releasing bars adjacent to said guides, stop devices carried by said releasing bars, and said stop devices having outwardly inclined spring arms terminating in stop projections movable through said lateral slots of said guides to normally engage and check the drop of wires from said containers through said guides. l

18. In a mechanism of the kind described, a plurality of vertical containers 'forholding a supply of wires or the like, means for supporting said containers, an agitator member in the bottom of each container havinga discharge opening permitting the passage ofa single wire downwardly out of each container, the upper ends of said agitator members having concave seats surrounding said discharge openings, agitator bars mounted for vertical vibratory move ment beneath the supporting means of said containers, said agitator bars engaging said agitator members to vibrate the same vertic a-lly, said agitator bar's having openings alined with the discharge openings of said agitator members, a rotatable shaft having cam means for vibrating said agitator bars, guides having vertical passages alined with the openings of said agitator bars and agitator members, said guides having lateral slots intersecting said Vertical passages thereof, longitudinally slidable releasing bars adjacent to said guides, stop devices carried by said releasing bars, said stop devices having outwardly inclined spring arms terminating in stop projections movable through said lateral slots of said guides to normally'engage and check the drop of wires from said containers through said guides, a vertically reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage, a holding frame detachably' mounted on said carriage, said holding frame having wire receiving openings vertically alined with said guide when said frame is attached to said carriage, an upward movement of said carriage being adapted to move said holding frame into wire receiving relation to said guides, a lever means for actuating said releasing bars,

canrmeans" onsaid carriage for operating said lever means and said releasing bars when said carriage is reciprocated, means limiting the drop of wires through said holding frame.

19. In a machine of the kind described, a plurality of vertical containers for holding a supply of wires or "the like, means for supporting said containers, an agitator memher in. the bottom of each container having a discliargeopening permitting the passage ofa single wire downwardly out of eachx'on tainer, the upper ends of said agitator me1nbe'rs having concave seats surrounding said discharge openings, agitator bars mounted for vertical vibratory movement beneath the supporting means of said containers, said agitator bars engaging said agitator members' to vibrate the same vertically, said agitator bars having openings alined with the discharge openings of said agitator members, a rotatable shaft having cam means for vibrating said agitator bars, guides having vertical passages alined with the openings of said agitator bars and agitator members, said guides having lateral slots intersecting said vertical passages thereof, longitudinally slidable releasing bars adjacent to said guides, stop devices carried by said releasing bars, said stop devices having outwardly inclined spring arms terminating in stop projections movable through said lateral slots of said guides to normally" engage and check the drop of wire from said containers through said guides, a vertically reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage, a holding frame detachabl'y mounted on said carriage, said holding frame having wire receiving openings vertically alined with said guides when said frame is attached to said carriage, an upward movement of said carriage being adapted to move said holding frame into wire receiving relation to said guides, a lever means for actuating said releasing bars, cam means on said carriage for operating said lever means and said releasing bars when said carriage is reciprocated, means limiting the drop of wires throughsaidholding frame, comprising vertical slide rods, heads on the upper ends of said sliderods, a stop-plate mounted between and car ried by said slide-rods to extend beneath said holding frame, means connected with said carriage engageable with said slide-rods to raise and lower the same and: said stopplate for the purposes described.

In testimony that we claim the invention set forth above we have hereunto set our hand this 5th day of November, 192i.

ROBERT EZEKIEL lVILSQN. ROBERT EUGENE l VILSON. WVitnesses:

GEORGE D. ltrorrnnns, FLORA MILLER. 

